Both teams will try to put their recent losing skid behind them when the Denver Broncos visit the New York Jets in Week 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 EST on Sunday, October 7, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Fans in certain markets will be able to watch the game on CBS.
Oddsmakers are listing this game as a straight up PK with an over/under of 42.5 points. Be sure to check out a full list of Week 5 NFL betting odds.
The Broncos have seen a promising 2-0 start to the season disappear quickly with losses in back-to-back weeks. In their defense, one of those losses came on the road against the Ravens, who have impressed early in the season. The other loss came against the undefeated Chiefs in a game the Broncos led by 10 points in the 4th quarter but couldn’t close out.
Things have not exactly worked as expected with new quarterback Case Keenum, who has had an uneven start to the season. Also, the Denver defense hasn’t been quite as dominant as in past seasons. On the contrary, the Broncos have been one of the best rushing teams in the NFL, turning a weakness from last season into a strength this year, giving Denver something they can build on moving forward.
The Jets have had a similar season. They looked outstanding in their 48-17 win over the Lions in Week 1, a result that immediately raised expectations for the Jets and rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. However, it’s been all downhill for the Jets since then, as they are now in the middle of a three-game losing streak.
To be fair, two of those losses have come on the road. The Jets have also fallen short against both the Dolphins and Jaguars, two teams that have started the season 3-1. Nevertheless, the Jets need to get things turned around in a hurry. This week’s game against the Broncos is the first of three straight at home, giving the Jets the perfect opportunity to start moving in the right direction.
My inclination is that the Broncos are the better team in this matchup, but it’s not always that simple. This could be a bit of a trap game for Denver whereas the Jets are a desperate team that’s returning home after back-to-back road losses. The Jets showed in Week 1 that they have some potential, and I think they tap into that potential enough to get a win over the Broncos.
There are simply too many things working against the Broncos in this game. They are coming off a devastating loss to the Chiefs last Monday and could be tempted to look ahead to the Rams next week. They also have to travel two time zones east on a short week and will be doing so for the second time in three weeks. When they went to Baltimore a couple weeks ago, the Broncos started fast but faded, going scoreless over the final three quarters, which concerns me heading into this week.
In addition to the intangibles, the Broncos have to worry about Keenum. Through four games, he has just three touchdowns and six interceptions. Too many of his interceptions have come when the Broncos looked poised to score, so he’s cost Denver quite a few points over the first month of the season. Even with a strong rushing attack behind rookies Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, the Broncos can only go so far if they don’t get more out of Keenum.
Keep in mind that the Jets defense they’ll face this week is no pushover. If you take away last week’s rough game against the Jaguars, the Jets are only giving up 19 points per game. Playing at home, New York’s defense figures to hang tough. Based on their recent play, the Broncos would be lucky to reach their season average of 21 points this week, and even that might be expecting too much.
If the Jets can remain tough defensively, it will take some of the pressure off Darnold. Denver’s defense has played well against the run this season, but they’ve been a little vulnerable through the air. Darnold seems to have found a favorite target in Quincy Enunwa. Also, the Broncos can’t overlook the likes of Robby Anderson and Terrelle Pryor, who are also capable playmakers.
I also like the mobility that Darnold as shown early in the season. He’s not much of a runner, but he’s mobile enough to get away from Denver’s pass rush. After recording six sacks in Week 1, the Broncos have had just four sacks over the last three weeks. If the Broncos aren’t getting to the quarterback, their defense isn’t nearly as effective, which is why they’ve given up 27 points each of the last two weeks.
To be honest, neither of these teams are that trustworthy at the moment. However, with the Broncos being on a short week and having to travel east for an early game, they’re in a tough position. At home, I think the Jets will find a way to win what promises to be an ugly, low-scoring game.